Little Tokens, Big Ripples™
The Practice, The Philosophy, and the Stories That Follow
In a world that moves fast, scrolls endlessly, and celebrates constant output, The RIPPLE Practice™ offers something quieter. Slower. Truer. It is a presence-based practice rooted in small acts of handmade generosity.
This isn’t about random acts of kindness left anonymously. This is about connection—honest, human, eye-to-eye. A handwritten note. A tiny painting. A token of appreciation. Made by hand. Given in person. Offered from the heart.
How It All Began
I had extra ceramic tiles donated by neighbors and a new love for fluid art.
I poured color and curiosity onto those tiles, then offered them freely to all the store owners in downtown Los Altos. In a way, I was clearing out my studio. But the responses made one thing clear: these weren’t just scraps. They were recognitions.
Since then, I’ve given away thousands of handmade tokens to cashiers, janitors, bus drivers, travelers, neighbors. Every exchange a small, sacred moment.
It was never about the art. It was always about the offering.
The RIPPLE Practice™
A presence-based approach to meaningful connection
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Reflect
Begin within. What are you carrying? What energy, emotion, or intention do you bring to this moment?
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Identify
Name the resistance. What's getting in the way of making? Fear? Perfectionism?Your unrelenting inner critic?
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Play
Give yourself permission to be your three-year-old self. Explore. Make marks. Be curious. Be free!
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Personalize
Infuse your tokens with intention. A word, a color, a memory—make it yours before you give it away.
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Let go
Release attachment. Offer the token without needing anything in return. Making it was a gift. Let that be enough.
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Embrace
You came seeking to make something perfect to hold and discovered the beauty of simply playing and giving.
Watch the video and download this free workbook
For the last seven years, I’ve been handing out small, handmade tokens of appreciation—each one a quiet reminder that someone is seen, valued, and appreciated.
Along the way, I noticed a pattern in how I create. A rhythm. A process I kept following without realizing it. That process became The RIPPLE Practice™.
This video is the story of how I found language for something deeply lived—and how that process evolved into a free, printable workbook designed to help you move through your own creative hesitation with presence, kindness, and trust.
This free workbook is more than a download—it’s a companion for anyone who’s ever felt creatively stuck, hesitant to start, or unsure how to reconnect with themselves.
Why Tokens?
While others talk about kindness in the abstract, I make it tangible.
These aren’t just gestures thoughtfully left behind—they are physical reminders of care, offered in presence. Tokens that say, I see you. Tokens that turn strangers into neighbors, and everyday moments into bridges.
They don’t require explanation. But they create ripples you can feel:
A cashier stands a little taller.
A delivery driver leaves with a smile.
A child learns that kindness is real.
Each token reminds someone they matter.
Why This Practice Matters
In a culture that often feels disconnected and performative, The RIPPLE Practice™ offers a return to authentic human connection. It's not about being artistic or having special skills—it's about being willing to show up as yourself and offer something real.
Each time you practice these six steps, you:
Develop deeper self-awareness
Overcome creative blocks and perfectionism
Strengthen your capacity for generosity
Create genuine moments of connection
Shift from product-focused to process-focused creating
Build confidence in your ability to make a difference through play and presence
The ripples from these small acts extend far beyond what you can see. But the most important ripple is the one that happens within you—the growing sense that you have something valuable to offer, exactly as you are.
